Digital and audio-visual content hub launched in Johannesburg

Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, founded by Wits University, has launched a Digital Content Hub, an incubator of innovative and creative audio-visual content, in partnership with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Institute of South Africa. A three-year R 14 500 000 grant from AFD will enable Tshimologong to expand its activities to incorporate audio-visual content creation (animation, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, holograms, 360° video, web content, video games, applications, web series and music). This hub will be based at the Precinct in Braamfontein and managed by Tshimologong in collaboration with key players in the multimedia and cultural and creative industries sector in France. This partnership will further create market access between French companies and South African startups, driving investment opportunities for digital content businesses.

The new content incubator project will incorporate training modules focused on content development in Tshimologong’s Skills Development Academy; The French institutions will support Tshimologong in developing new curricula, training trainers and arranging exchanges of staff and students between France and South Africa. The project will also introduce a two-year skills development programme focused on gaming and animation in order to develop a skills pipeline for the creative and digital economy. Lastly, it will integrate Digital Labs Africa into Tshimologong’s existing start-up incubation programme. Tshimologong is expected to have fully incorporated digital content development into its activities in a self-sustainable manner by 2021.